Motorcycle ride will benefit Justice4PAKids to raise awareness of child sexual abuse

By Kelly Lyons
Pottstown Mercury
September 09, 2014

http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140910/motorcycle-ride-will-benefit-justice4pakids-to-raise-awareness-of-child-sexual-abuse

Maureen Martinez, left, founder of Justice 4PA Kids, and Bob Riley are holding a motorcycle ride to benefit the nonprofit, which raises awareness of child sexual abuse.

MALVERN — When Justice4PAKids co-founder Bob Riley wanted to organize a fundraiser for his new organization with a distinct mission, he wanted to raise money in a unique way. So the motorcycle enthusiast started the event Motorcycle Ride4PAKids.

“Everybody has a golf tournament,” Riley said. “We wanted something new and different.”

Now in its second year, participants will meet for the Ride4PAKids between 9:30 and 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, at The Office Bar & Grille in Charlestown. The ride will start at 11 a.m. and finish at about 1 p.m. The 3-year-old nonprofit Justice4PAKids focuses on raising awareness of sexual abuse of children through seminars for adults and body-safety coloring books for children.

Riley said he became more interested in the issue when a grand jury report released in February 2011 alleged that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia allowed priests to continue working after they were accused of pedophilia.

“Frankly as a dedicated Catholic, I said I really don’t want to bring the Catholic Church down, but I really want to do something to remedy the situation,” Riley said. “I have to become more educated about the situation.”

The following fall, Penn State University was embroiled in a scandal when Jerry Sandusky, assistant football coach, was accused of child sex abuse. Because of this, his adopted son Matt Sandusky became interested in Riley’s organization, and decided to speak at the upcoming event on the importance of early disclosure and getting into therapy, according to Maureen Martinez, co-founder of the nonprofit.

Sandusky will be speaking after the motorcycle ride. The ride costs $25 per bike, but nonriders are encouraged to come out to support the organization.

After the ride, Martinez encourages participants to eat at The Office Bar, where 15 percent of the proceeds will go toward Justice4PAKids.

“We want people to have fun,” Martinez said. “It’s family-friendly. People can bring their kids to the restaurant.”

Last year, the event was held in great weather conditions and brought in $13,000 for the organization. Riley said they are hoping the weather is the same, but they hope to raise even more money this year to support the organization’s efforts.

“People say, ‘Well, Bob, do you think you’re really going to make a difference?’” Riley said. “If I can save one innocent child, I will consider myself to have made a difference.”

Riley said he is inspired by his own family to continue with his efforts to prevent child sex abuse.

“I have three grandsons,” Riley said. “I look in their eyes, and I say to myself, ‘God help any individual who tries to hurt them.’ It just makes me shudder.”